识时务 (shí shí wù) — to recognize the situation; to be sensible about current trends (often used in the idiom 识时务者为俊杰)

Definition

A chengyu-style verb meaning 'to read the situation and adapt' — implying pragmatic judgment of current trends. Almost always used in the fixed saying 识时务者为俊杰 ('one who reads the times is a hero').

verb
to recognize the situationto be sensible about current trends (often used in the idiom 识时务者为俊杰)

Examples

  • 识时务，。
    Zài zhí chǎng zhōng yào xué huì shí shí wù, cái néng zuò chū hé shì de xuǎn zé.
    In the workplace, you need to learn to read the situation to make appropriate choices.
  • 识时务，。
    Tā zhēn shì gè bù shí shí wù de rén, guài bu de bèi kāi chú le.
    He really doesn't know how to adapt to the situation — no wonder he got fired.
  • ，，。
    Nǐ jì rán xuǎn zé chuàng yè, jiù yào shí diǎn shí wù, bié tài chōng dòng.
    Since you've chosen to start a business, you need to be a bit more realistic about the situation and not act too impulsively.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

识shírecognize
时务current affairs
时shítime务wùaffairs
偏正Modifier + head

识 'recognize' and 时务 'current affairs' give 'recognize the situation'.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 識; 识 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
戠
戠zhí識zhì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 識 pairs 言 (say) with 戠 as a sound part; the simplified 识 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 识 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 務; 务 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
敄
敄wù務wù
Same sound today

In the traditional form 務, 力 shows the sense of strength or effort, while 敄 gives the sound. The simplified 务 is a later shorthand.

Open 务 →

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